Don't touch/handle roo for first year?

[chooks4life]

I agree about sending him to 'freezer camp', especially if you have children. But I understand if you prefer to try to retrain him. While I've not yet heard of someone permanently retraining a rooster out of aggressive behavior, who knows.... Surely there is an exception to every rule. So best wishes with that.

 

[3acres]

I've been experimenting on this the last couple years and the roos I handle everyday from day one make the best roos here for me. I have yet to be attacked by a handled roo and I've been attacked by every single non-handled roo. That is just what as happened here. I pick up the handled roos and carry them around all the time from chicks to out there right now...

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[TaylorChicks]

Our chickens were handled daily and all our girls are very tame and friendly. Our rooster, on the other hand became very aggressive at about 5 months old. He was aggressive with the pullets and our children. The kids would go into the chicken run and he would attack "ninja style". We couldn't even let our littlest boy go in there anymore.

 

[chooks4life]

I've been experimenting on this the last couple years and the roos I handle everyday from day one make the best roos here for me. I have yet to be attacked by a handled roo and I've been attacked by every single non-handled roo. That is just what as happened here. I pick up the handled roos and carry them around all the time from chicks to out there right now...

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Interesting. May I ask, do you cull or breed your aggressive roosters?

Best wishes.

 

[3acres]

Interesting. May I ask, do you cull or breed your aggressive roosters?

Best wishes.

I've culled right after they first attack so far. I happened to read on this board before I even had any roosters, that this lady picks up her roosters and carries them around everyday for a while from chicks to whenever....keeps them in their place as you are dominant. So I tried it from the start and have had great luck with it.

 

[cestial225]

I do not handle any of my chickens besides two little silky hens that my kids feel in love with at hatch. Even them I do not handle, only the kids handle them. I have had agressive roos that were culled immediately and right not I have two cockerels that are okay so far. I do not bother them and they do not bother me. I do not let my children out when the cockerels are out though. I do not trust them, I am always afraid that one day they might turn so if they kids are going outside I lock them in the run. They are easy to get in though, I just call them and throw some treats in the run.

 

[donrae]

I don't handle any of my birds. I mean, I pick chicks up to move them from brooder to coop, things like that, but I'd say most of my 2 year old birds have been touched less than five times in their lives. In 20 years, I've had to cull 2 roosters for being human aggressive. I've had probably 8 roosters that just lived their lives, never once testing or being aggressive to me. Those birds were all at least a year old, so hormones had come into play. I don't do anything special with roosters vs hens. I walk calmly and confidently through my flock, and all the birds move out of my way. They're not scared of me, they just yield to me. Then again, so do my dogs, horses, any other critters on the place. Except the cats. Stupid cats. I have to boot them out of the way.

 

[jstlitlome]

I'm new to chickens, so of course I held them almost every day! lol. They were just so darned cute! I had to get rid of my HUGE Buff Orpington because he was aggressive to the hens (but never me) and now my little Silky is acting up toward me. I have no idea if this is because I held them or its just in their genes. Now I just grab my little Silkie every time he acts up and lay him on the ground sideways until he gives. (it really helps when the hens peck him a bit) Then he leaves me alone for a few days. I feel like its worth the work since he is a good rooster to the ladies. I do not intend to breed him.

He is so little and ineffective when he attacks. My daughter said "it feels like someone tossed a chicken at my legs!" lol

 

[bird-brain]

In total agreement with culling aggressive Roos. I am not going to be afraid to walk into my coop. I had two Roos same hatch day, same breed, same breeder, same treatment. One is a pussy cat, the other has a mind to try me on occasion. Nothing too aggressive and he telegraphs it well. Usually stops for lengthy periods If I just pin him to the ground. Temperament of the individual bird has a lot to do with it. So does age and environment. I find that my more aggressive SF gets a little worse when the young Roos start to crow and new hens start to mature. And all my Roos have been little big shots when they start to get that first good testosterone dose.

 

[whittychick]

My Roo..an Isa Red ..Was bought at a feed store..all the chick's were handled with love. Just last week he started to turn and I have no idea what to do. I sing to him and talk to him yet he lunges at me and charges me . methodically watching my movements. . today he cornered me in the hen house. A large 9x12 building. I need some help here.. any suggestions on what to b do??

My rooster did this to me and my niece too. I was given advice on here to whack him with something...I used a broom and did more of a scoot on his behind. He's been fine ever since! Just need to show him who's boss. Showing fear and running WILL not help! Trust me!